Loom for producing woven goods or material with an incorporated cover thread

ABSTRACT

In order to improve a loom for producing woven material ( 10 ) with an incorporated cover thread ( 12 ), it is proposed to provide a laying device for at least one cover thread ( 12 ) and also a warp-laying device ( 9 ) with warp-laying elements ( 14 ) for laying further warp threads ( 8 ). The warp-laying device ( 9 ) is designed such that it can make the further warp threads ( 8 ) penetrate from a starting position through the upper shed ( 5 ) to the lower shed ( 4 ), or through the lower shed to the upper shed, and therefore the weft-insertion device ( 7 ) crosses the further warp threads ( 8 ). The laying device has at least one cover-thread guide ( 13 ) which, in the starting position of the warp-laying device ( 9 ), can be displaced transversely to the warp threads ( 2 ) by way of a transverse-movement means.

This application claims priority from PCT Application No. PCT/EP2011/059494 filed Jun. 8, 2011 which claims priority from European Application No. EP 10165399.6 filed on Jun. 9, 2010, which applications are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a loom for producing woven material with an incorporated cover thread.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A loom of the above mentioned type is known from CH 490 541. Therein, attachment threads are arranged by means of feed needles while weaving a ribbon. There are no suggestions whatsoever as to how the ribbon needle loom could carry out in advantageous manner the weaving in of a conductive thread, particularly of an antenna thread. A similar technology has been independently disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,796,234.

From WO 2007/071077 A1 it is known to incorporate a conductive thread in disparate ways by having the feed needle arranged on a shaft that is oriented transversely to the warp direction, the shaft being connected to a first driving device for performing a pivoting movement of the shaft and further being connected to a second driving device for effecting a displacement in axial direction. As a result of pivoting, the blade dips into and out of the shed. As a result, the blade can be moved across the width of the ribbon.

From JP 2005/015954 A, there is known a loom for weaving in an effect thread that can be incorporated in the backing fabric or that lies on the top of the backing fabric. The loom of JP 2005/015954 A is equipped with a shedding device for the warp threads which allows selecting individual warp threads. In this case the effect thread is a selected, additional warp thread. Thereby, both the effect thread and any additional warp threads are guided within the shed. As a result, the effect threads of the chain that is fed in from above the additional warp threads and the selected effect thread, are tied off by these warp threads upon a transverse movement of the effect threads. This means that the effect threads are not applied above the backing fabric, but rather become a part of the backing fabric and thus modify the structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a loom that is suitable for producing woven material with an incorporated cover thread. Thereby, the loom shall be useful for applying a cover thread onto a woven material without noticeably changing the woven material.

At the outset, the measures of the invention have the result that, on the one hand, a cover thread can be tied off even with a transverse movement of the cover thread guide—in weft direction. Moreover, and this is especially advantageous, by a distribution of movements, namely the binding and the weft-laying—to two movements, there is no visible tying off on the face of the ribbon fabric. In this manner the loom is able to apply a cover thread without noticeably changing the woven material—in contrast to the loom of JP 2005/015954 A. Due to the fact that the loom comprises—in addition to and independently of the laying device for the at least one cover thread—a warp-laying device with a plurality of warp-laying elements arranged adjacent to each other for laying additional warp threads, the disadvantage of JP 2005/015954 A that the cover threads become a part of the backing fabric and thus change the structure is avoided.

It is also very advantageous that the cover thread can be moved and laid out in any laying position on the ribbon fabric between the warp-laying elements.

It is advantageous if the warp-laying device also comprises transverse moving means by means of which it can be moved transversely to the warp threads when it is not dipped into the shed.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the laying device comprises at least one further cover thread guide that is arranged—in respect of the direction of the warp thread—behind said cover thread guide and is movable transversely to the direction of the warp thread.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises at least one retaining hook that can hold the cover thread when the reed is stopped. Thereby, the retaining hook is guided in such a way that after laying of the cover thread it is movable away from the ribbon fabric to a starting position.

The aforementioned embodiments primarily relate to ribbon looms. In the case of wider looms, the technique according to the invention can be used advantageously in that several warp-laying devices are arranged parallel to the selvage and adjacent to each other at a defined distance. Preferably, the warp-laying devices are driven in a coupled manner. However, for certain applications it can also be advantageous if individual drives are provided so that the warp-laying devices are driven individually and independently of each other.

The aforementioned elements as well as those claimed and described in the following exemplary embodiments, to be used according to the invention, are not subject to any particular conditions by way of exclusion in terms of their size, shape, use of material and technical design, with the result that the selection criteria known in the respective field of application can be used without restrictions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Examples of the loom will hence forth be described in more detail by reference to the drawings, wherein are shown:

FIG. 1 a loom according to a first example of the present invention as a schematic view to explain the basic movement;

FIG. 2 the loom according to FIG. 1 as a schematic view to explain the laying movement of the cover thread guide;

FIG. 3 a loom according to a second example of the present invention with several cover thread guides, as a schematic view;

FIG. 4 a loom according to a third example of the present invention with a retaining hook, as a schematic view;

FIG. 5 a loom according to an example with three parallel operating warp-laying devices laying adjacent to each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a loom according to a first example of the present invention as a schematic view to explain the basic movement. In a gripper loom, the warp threads 2 for producing a ribbon fabric 10 form an upper shed 5 and a lower shed 4 for inserting a weft-thread by means of a weft-insertion needle 7 or a gripper. A reed 1 is arranged in a conventional manner in order to rest against the inserted weft-threads against the previously produced woven material 10.

The warp-laying device 9 is dipped in through the upper shed 5 into the lower shed 4. At the same time the reed 1 moves backward. The warp-laying device 9 can be moved in the direction of the reed 1 and also downwards into the lower shed 4. In the embodiment presented here, the warp-laying device 9 follows the movement of the reed 1. However, the warp-laying device can also be switched off or it can be dipped in at variable frequencies depending on the bonding.

The weft of the weft-insertion needle or of the gripper 7 intersects the additional warp threads 8 if the warp-laying elements are in the lower shed. In the embodiment shown, the weft of the weft-insertion needle 7 or of the gripper is seized by means of an auxiliary thread. The warp-laying device 9 raises the warp-laying elements from the lower shed 4 and the upper shed 5 and moves into the starting position 11 together with the reed 1. Thereafter, the additional warp threads 8, which in the embodiment presented here are attachment threads, are stopped by the reed 1. The warp-laying has to be arranged in such a way that it is never bonded to the covering wefts.

The additional laying by means of a cover thread guide is explained in FIG. 2.

The cover thread guide 13 for the cover thread 12 can be brought into any laying position between the warp-laying elements 14 by means of a transverse movement. There follows the above described basic movement according to FIG. 1. The cover thread 12 can be an effect thread, e.g. wires, ropes of pearls, elastic threads etc. or also a functional thread, e.g. a LED thread, a conductive thread etc.

When the warp-laying device 9 is in the starting position 11, the cover thread guide 13 can be moved through the warp-laying elements 14 to reach the new laying position e.g. by means of a linear motor, a cam mechanism etc. Depending on the desired effect and function, this can occur periodically or according to a freely defined pattern.

With the additional warp threads, i.e. the attachment threads 8, the cover thread 12 is tied down to the ribbon fabric 10, particularly also in weft direction. Alternatively or as an additional effect, the additional warp threads 8—which are attachment threads in the described embodiment—can also be constituted by a chain of effect threads.

The warp-laying device 9 can also be moved in a transverse movement by one or several warp-laying elements 14 in order to lay and tie down a cover thread 12 along the warp thread direction of the ribbon fabric 10. This allows for new patterns and effects. The warp-laying elements 14 are arranged adjacent to each other at a fixed mutual distance, which is equidistant in the embodiment presented here.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention that is shown in FIG. 3, several cover thread guides can be lined up one behind the other.

Each cover thread guide 13, 16 is driven by an individual drive and can be moved independently from the others in a transverse direction.

On this loom the cover threads 12 and 15 can cross, and thus new effects can achieved.

A further embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, a retaining hook is used.

The retaining hook 17 holds the cover thread in order to reduce the load of the additional warp thread 8—which in the embodiment presented here is an attachment thread. The movement of the retaining hook can be effected via rotation, but also via a linear movement. Regarding the retaining hook, two or a plurality of members 18 can be used in one weaving stroke. As soon as the cover thread 12 has been laid out, the retaining hook 17 is moved back away from the ribbon fabric 10 into its starting position or it remains in its position until the cover thread 12 has been tied down.

FIG. 5 shows a loom according to an embodiment based on three warp-laying devices 9 arranged adjacent to each other and operating in parallel. The warp-laying devices correspond to those of the embodiment described above, and for better clarity they are not shown in FIG. 5. On such a wider loom the technique of the present invention is advantageously implemented in that several warp-laying devices 9—in the embodiment presented here just three—are arranged parallel to the selvage and adjacent to each other at a defined mutual distance. In the embodiment presented here it is indicated that several ribbons are produced in parallel. If the ribbons—just for increasing the production rate—are of equal type, the respective warp-laying devices 9 are driven in a coupled manner. For certain applications, e.g. if differently configured ribbons shall be produced adjacent to each other or if different applications shall be produced on a wide ribbon fabric 10, it can also be advantageous to provide individual drives so that the warp-laying devices 9 are driven and controlled individually and independently of each other.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 reed

2 warp threads of a ribbon fabric

3 shed

4 lower shed

5 upper shed

6 seizing needle or needle for crocheting off

7 weft-insertion needle or weft-insertion gripper

8 additional warp threads as attachment threads or as effect threads

9 warp-laying device

10 ribbon fabric

11 starting position of the warp-laying device

12 cover thread

13 cover thread guide

14 warp-laying elements

15 second cover thread

16 second cover thread guide

17 retaining hook

18 members of the retaining hook 

1. A weaving loom for producing a woven material with an incorporated cover thread, comprising a shed forming device for forming a shed from warp threads with at least an upper shed and a lower shed, a weft-insertion device for inserting weft-threads, a reed for stopping of inserted weft-threads, a laying device for at least one cover thread, characterized in that the loom further comprises a warp-laying device with a plurality of warp-laying elements arranged adjacent to each other for laying additional warp threads, wherein the warp-laying device comprises a driving device for dipping in the warp-laying elements for the additional warp threads from a starting position through the upper shed to the lower shed or through the lower shed to the upper shed, and wherein the warp-laying device is positioned so that the weft-insertion device crosses the additional warp threads, and wherein the laying device comprises at least one cover thread guide which, in the starting position of the warp-laying device, is movable transversely to the warp threads by means of a transverse moving means.
 2. The weaving loom according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover thread guide is movable in each position of the shed by means of the transverse moving means.
 3. The weaving loom according to claim 1, characterized in that the warp-laying elements of the warp-laying device are arranged adjacent to each other at a fixed, preferably equal distance.
 4. The weaving loom according to claim 1, characterized in that the warp-laying device further comprises transverse moving means by means of which the warp-laying elements are movable transversely to the warp threads when they are not dipped into the shed.
 5. The weaving loom according to claim 1, characterized in that the laying device comprises at least one further cover thread guide that is arranged, in respect of the direction of the warp thread (2), behind said cover thread guide and is movable transversely to the direction of the warp thread.
 6. The weaving loom according to claim 1, characterized by at least one movable retaining hook for holding the cover thread in order to reduce the load of the additional warp thread, wherein the retaining hook after laying of the cover thread is movable away from the ribbon fabric to a starting position.
 7. The weaving loom according to claim 1, characterized in that several warp-laying devices are arranged parallel to the selvage and adjacent to each other at a defined distance.
 8. The weaving loom according to claim 7, characterized in that the warp-laying devices are driven in a coupled manner.
 9. The weaving loom according to claim 7, characterized in that individual drives are provided so that the warp-laying devices are driven individually and independently of each other.
 10. The weaving loom according to claim 2, characterized in that the warp-laying elements of the warp-laying device are arranged adjacent to each other at a fixed, preferably equal distance.
 11. The weaving loom according to claim 2, characterized in that the warp-laying device further comprises transverse moving means by means of which the warp-laying elements are movable transversely to the warp threads when they are not dipped into the shed.
 12. The weaving loom according to claim 3, characterized in that the warp-laying device further comprises transverse moving means by means of which the warp-laying elements are movable transversely to the warp threads when they are not dipped into the shed.
 13. The weaving loom according to claim 2, characterized in that the laying device comprises at least one further cover thread guide that is arranged, in respect of the direction of the warp thread (2), behind said cover thread guide and is movable transversely to the direction of the warp thread.
 14. The weaving loom according to claim 3, characterized in that the laying device comprises at least one further cover thread guide that is arranged, in respect of the direction of the warp thread (2), behind said cover thread guide and is movable transversely to the direction of the warp thread.
 15. The weaving loom according to claim 4, characterized in that the laying device comprises at least one further cover thread guide that is arranged, in respect of the direction of the warp thread (2), behind said cover thread guide and is movable transversely to the direction of the warp thread.
 16. The weaving loom according to claim 2, characterized by at least one movable retaining hook for holding the cover thread in order to reduce the load of the additional warp thread, wherein the retaining hook after laying of the cover thread is movable away from the ribbon fabric to a starting position.
 17. The weaving loom according to claim 3, characterized by at least one movable retaining hook for holding the cover thread in order to reduce the load of the additional warp thread, wherein the retaining hook after laying of the cover thread is movable away from the ribbon fabric to a starting position.
 18. The weaving loom according to claim 4, characterized by at least one movable retaining hook for holding the cover thread in order to reduce the load of the additional warp thread, wherein the retaining hook after laying of the cover thread is movable away from the ribbon fabric to a starting position.
 19. The weaving loom according to claim 5, characterized by at least one movable retaining hook for holding the cover thread in order to reduce the load of the additional warp thread, wherein the retaining hook after laying of the cover thread is movable away from the ribbon fabric to a starting position.
 20. The weaving loom according to claim 2, characterized in that several warp-laying devices are arranged parallel to the selvage and adjacent to each other at a defined distance.
 21. The weaving loom according to claim 3, characterized in that several warp-laying devices are arranged parallel to the selvage and adjacent to each other at a defined distance.
 22. The weaving loom according to claim 4, characterized in that several warp-laying devices are arranged parallel to the selvage and adjacent to each other at a defined distance.
 23. The weaving loom according to claim 5, characterized in that several warp-laying devices are arranged parallel to the selvage and adjacent to each other at a defined distance.
 24. The weaving loom according to claim 6, characterized in that several warp-laying devices are arranged parallel to the selvage and adjacent to each other at a defined distance. 